Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

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A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (1)

These days, gatherings of family and friends tend to have a variety of diets, do they not? We know many of you are looking to get more veggies on your plate. This fall, how about trying a stuffed delicata squash? Stuffed squash is a perfect fall main dish: it’shomey, autumnal, and so, so good for you.Keep reading for the stuffed delicata squash recipe, and why to make it!

Making this stuffed delicata squash recipe

Delicata squash is Alex and my very favorite squash. It’s a yellow oblong squash that’s becomewidely available in the past few years, and its sweet taste is delightful. We love that it cooks quickly, and that the skin is edible: no peeling required!

For stuffing these delicata squash, we combinedbrown butterwith sage and wild rice, along with some vegetables and sharp cheddar cheese. The sweetness of the brown butter against the herbs and chewy wild rice was spot on, and the salty cheese pulled it all together. This one was an absolute winner, in our book!

How to cook delicata squash

Delicata squash is one of our favorite squash varieties to work with. Our favorite farmer at ourfarmer’s marketassured us that this variety was delicious and tastes sweet, almost like a sweet potato. We decided to give it a try, and were incredibly pleased with the results! This squash is very easy to work with–as opposed tobutternut squash, which is delightful but can a chore to clean and prepare! The taste is sweet and tender, and you can even eat the skin. And, delicata squash roasts up quickly!

To cook delicata squash, all you have to do is roast it in a very hot oven. Line a sheet pan with parchment paper. Cut the delicata squash in half and remove the seeds with a spoon. Then rub it with olive oil, sprinkle with salt, and place it on the parchment paper cut side down. It roasts in just 25 minutes! Another favorite way of ours for how to cook delicata squash is tomake it into fries.

More delicata squash recipes

Got delicata? Here are a few more delicata squash recipes to enjoy:

  • Bake up a pan of Roasted Delicata Squash or Delicata Squash Fries with creamy dipping sauce
  • Make a fresh Delicata Squash Salad
  • Try Chipotle Black Bean Stuffed Delicata Squash

01

Delicata Squash Salad

03

Delicata Squash Recipe with Black Bean Stuffing

04

15 Delicata Squash Recipes for the Season

This stuffed delicata squash recipe is…

Vegetarian and gluten-free.

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Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (6)

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe

★★★★★5 from 1 review
  • Author: a Couple Cooks
  • Prep Time: 1 hour 25 minutes
  • Cook Time: 30 minutes
  • Total Time: 1 hour 55 minutes
  • Yield: 6 to 8 1x
Print Recipe

Description

A filling and hearty dinner recipe, this tender stuffed delicata squash is filled with wild rice, kale, carrots, sage, and sharp cheddar cheese.

Ingredients

Scale

  • 1 ½ cups wild rice
  • 2 teaspoons kosher salt, divided
  • 6 delicata squash
  • 3 tablespoons olive oil
  • ½ teaspoon dried ground fennel
  • ½ teaspoon dried oregano
  • ½ teaspoon dried chili powder
  • 1 shallot
  • 3 cloves garlic
  • 2 carrots
  • 1 bunch Tuscan kale
  • 10 leaves sage
  • 3 tablespoons butter
  • ½ cup shredded sharp cheddar cheese
  • Fresh ground black pepper
  • ¼ cup roasted salted pepitas (pumpkin seeds)

Instructions

  1. In a medium pot, combine 1 ½ cups wild rice, 3 ½ cups water, and 1 teaspoon kosher salt. Bring to a boil, then simmer for 45 to 50 minutes until tender. Let sit for 10 minutes before draining any extra liquid.
  2. Preheat oven to 450°F. Wash the squash, then cut each in half and scoop out the seeds with a spoon. Rub each squash lightly with olive oil on both sides (about ½ tablespoon per squash), then lightly sprinkle with a pinch each of ground fennel, oregano, and chili powder, and kosher salt.
  3. Place the squash halves cut side down on a baking sheet lined with parchment paper and bake for about 25 to 30 minutes, until tender when poked with a fork.
  4. Mince the shallot and 3 cloves garlic. Cut 2 carrots into 1/4-inch pieces. Remove the stems from the kale and chop it into thin strips. Thinly slice the sage.
  5. Melt 3 tablespoons butter over medium-high heat and stir constantly until it becomes brown, a few minutes. Once browned, lower the heat to medium and immediately add carrot, shallot and garlic; sauté until the carrot is soft, about 10 minutes. Add the sage and kale and sasautéute 2 more minutes. Add the rice and ½ cup sharp cheddar cheese, ½ teaspoon kosher salt and plenty of fresh ground black pepper. Remove from heat and spoon the rice mixture into the wells in the squash. Top with roasted pepitas.
  • Category: Main Dish
  • Method: Baked
  • Cuisine: American

Keywords: stuffed delicata squash

vegetarian gluten free

Published on / Last updated on

Categorized In:

  • Dinner Recipes
  • Recipes

Tagged with:

  • Autumn
  • Brown Butter
  • Carrots
  • Cheddar
  • Cheese
  • Delicata
  • Fall
  • Garlic
  • Gluten-Free Recipes
  • Healthy
  • Kale
  • Pepitas
  • Sage
  • Shallots
  • Squash
  • Thanksgiving Recipes
  • Vegetarian Recipes
  • Whole Foods
  • Wild Rice

About the authors

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (7)

Sonja & Alex

Hi, we’re Alex and Sonja Overhiser, married cookbook authors, food bloggers, and recipe developers. We founded A Couple Cooks to share fresh, seasonal recipes for memorable kitchen moments! Our recipes are made by two real people and work every time.

About Us

Stuffed Delicata Squash Recipe (2024)

FAQs

Do you eat the skin on roasted delicata squash? ›

Always: Acorn, Delicata, Honeynut

Wofford and our test kitchen editors will leave the skin on delicata, acorn, and honeynut squash to save time, add nutrients, and reduce food waste. These varieties have thin skins that soften readily when cooked. Next time you slice a delicata into rings ready to roast, don't peel it.

How can you tell if delicata squash is good? ›

Finding delicata squash that's ripe and fresh is always best. You'll know it's ripe if the vertical strips of color in the grooves turn orange. They are unripe when they're dark green. But if you don't plan on using them right away, there's nothing wrong with buying them unripe.

How long before delicata squash goes bad? ›

Directions: Storage tips: Winter Squash is best stored between 55-65 degrees, however, Delicata squash does not store quite as well as heartier varieties like Acorn and Butternut. Place in a cool dry room in your house (do not refrigerate) and it should last 3 months.

How much space does delicata squash need? ›

PLANT SPACING: Bush to short-vine habits generally require 6' between-row spacing, while long-vine habits require 12' between-row spacing. In-row spacing depends on fruit size and is generally: small, 18-24"; medium, 24-36"; large, 36-48".

Can you eat too much Delicata squash? ›

Toxic squash syndrome can result from continuing to eat the bitter fruit. Some of the most rampant symptoms and indicators of toxic squash syndrome include diarrhea, vomiting, and abdominal pain. Toxic squash syndrome can be so severe that it can cause swelling in the pancreas, liver, gallbladder, and kidneys.

Can you eat all of a Delicata squash? ›

Yes! The skin of Delicata squash is 100% edible. That's the second reason I love this squash so much. It's so easy to prepare because you don't have to bother peeling it.

Is it OK to eat the seeds of delicata squash? ›

The answer here is a resounding yes. A squash with zero food waste! There's no need to peel the skin of the delicata squash; it becomes very tender when you cook it. Typically you do scoop out the seeds, but you can toss them in olive oil, salt and pepper and roast them like pumpkin seeds.

What color should the inside of delicata squash be? ›

Delicata squash are small and cylindrical, pale creamy yellow in color with green to orange vertical stripes. Inside, delicata squash is also pale yellow. One of the best features of delicata squash is its thin, edible rind.

Why is my delicata squash oozing? ›

If the stem has been broken or removed at harvest the area may ooze liquid the color of brown sugar. This is OK as long as the squash seems fresh and there's no softening of the flesh. When: Delicata is a prolific variety and tends to hold well in storage.

How can you tell if squash is bad inside? ›

Any soft spots or slimy areas are also a sign that your squash has gone bad. Old squash tends to have soft flesh, leathery skin, and a hollow feel. And, of course, any spots of mold mean it's time to toss your squash.

Can you save half a delicata squash? ›

Raw, cut delicata squash will keep in an airtight container in the fridge for up to a week. Cooked squash can be stored in an airtight container in the fridge for four to five days. To freeze delicata squash, spread diced cubes on a baking sheet.

Should delicata squash be refrigerated? ›

How to Store Delicata Squash. You don't need to refrigerate your delicata squash; just store them in a cool, dry place. To prevent rot on any side, consider storing them on a surface with good air circulation; I keep them in a metal basket, but you could also use a colander or other perforated container.

What does a mature delicata squash look like? ›

The average weight of a mature Delicata is between one and two pounds. When the skin of the squash has changed to a wonderful cream color and it has developed its orange and green stripes, the crop may be ready to pick at this point.

Is delicata squash summer or winter? ›

Although delicata is typically considered a winter squash variety, it actually belongs to the same species as summer squash varieties like cousa, zucchini, pattypan, etc. The delicata squash is sometimes referred to as a sweet potato squash or a peanut squash.

Why is my Delicata squash skin tough? ›

Its rind may look super tough on the outside, but we can assure you, it's super soft on the inside. There are reasons why your squash may be different this year. The maturity of the squash may be at play. Generally, younger squash has more tender skin so it could be that last year you harvested earlier.

Is the skin of roasted acorn squash edible? ›

Next time you roast a squash like acorn, butternut or honeynut, try leaving the skins on and give them a nibble. Be sure to scrub the skin well, Joyce recommends, to remove any dirt or debris. The pleasantly chewy texture may just surprise you, plus you can never go wrong with more fiber.

Do you leave the skin on squash when you cook it? ›

Some squash skin is edible, while other types of squash have tough skin that can be removed before cooking. Remove the skin of butternut, hubbard, buttercup, and turban squash. If you enjoy the taste, leave the skin on acorn, spaghetti, kabocha, and zucchini squash.

Can you eat roasted spaghetti squash skin? ›

They look like mini butternut squash and are particularly sweet. Honeynut squash are especially delicious roasted with a little cinnamon and butter. The only winter squash skin to avoid eating altogether, even if well cooked, is spaghetti squash because of its thick, eggshell-like quality.

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